Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular festivals in India. Popularly known as Ganesh Utsav (Utsav means celebrations) This festival dedicated to Lord Ganesh, the God of Wisdom. Known as Vighnaharta (vighna means obstacle and harta means removing), the one who removes obstacles. The giver of Riddhi ( means prosperity) and Siddhi (Spiritual powers).

This festival attracts people of India from all caste and creeds. All over India in big cities, small cities to urban villages. Huge and small pandals (stage) are erected. Devotees bring the colorful idols of variant sizes with music dance, singing the songs of Ganesha. On the day of Ganesh Chaturthi (this year 2011 date is 1st September, Thursday) lord Ganpati is then placed in the colorful, decorated pandals.

You might like to listen to talk on Ganpati Vandana by his holiness Sri Sri Ravishankar in Hindi

Ganpati puja, Ganesh Arati, offering of prasad (food) and other spiritual rituals are performed with great zest daily. Every pandal people visit in great numbers to pay visit to lord Ganesh and also enjoy the decorations and lighting that goes with it. This goes on for 11 days. On the 11th day is the day of Ganesh Visarjan. Ganesh Visarjan 2011.

Ganesh Visarjan is a day of huge celebration again. With pomp music and colors. The time to say goodbye to Ganesha with the songs and prayers to come back again next year. Visarjan (meaning - immersing in river or sea) is done. The streets and roads of India is flooded with people. People in huge number dance their way to the river or sea (the visarjan point). More people are seen on the roads just watch numbers of Ganpati idol pass by for visarjan.